6 Best Greenhouses for Winter Growing (To Keep a Garden Year-Round)

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Best Greenhouses for Winter Growing

Winter can be a depressing time of the year for many people. But there’s something especially sad about dealing with the beautiful plants you’ve tended to for a few months fading away as the days grow shorter and shorter.

Related Article: Do Greenhouses Have Floors?

In some places with a milder climate, you might be able to keep a garden going in the winter. However, if you live in a harsh northern area, you can kiss gardening goodbye for the cold months.

Or can you keep gardening in the winter?

The answer is yes; you can keep gardening once summer ends. You’ll need a suitable greenhouse.

To help you, we’ve pulled together a list of the best greenhouses for winter growing.

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Quick Summary

Product Name Grade
Palram Bella Hobby Greenhouse B+
Happygrill Greenhouse B+
Colonial Gable Greenhouse A+
Mt. Hood Greenhouse A+
8 Ft x 8 Ft. D Greenhouse A+

Best Greenhouses for Winter Growing

Palram Bella Hobby Greenhouse

Palram Bella Hobby Greenhouse, 8' x 8', Silver with Twin Wall Glazing

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First up on our tour of greenhouses is Palram’s, Bella Hobby Greenhouse. It has a bell shape that does more than look pretty like its name.

The shape makes it resistant to high winds, flowing over it without resistance. Because of the rounded roof, snow won’t sit on top, either, so you won’t have to clear the roof off even after your worst snowstorms.

No matter what environment you live in, the Bella Hobby Greenhouse can stand up to the test. Its material is practically indestructible, and it won’t rust or corrode with time.

All these qualities come in a beautiful, graceful-looking package.

Pros

  • Graceful design.
  • The shape and galvanized steel base allow it to resist high winds.
  • Snow will slide right off the top.
  • Will not rust or corrode with time.
  • Sold in a few different sizes, so you can find one that fits your yard.

Cons

  • Some customers felt it was challenging to put together.

Read Also: What Can I Grow in a Greenhouse in the Winter?

Happygrill Greenhouse

HAPPYGRILL Greenhouse Wooden Cold Frame Garden Greenhouse (30"X22.5

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Maybe you don’t have the most space in your yard or live in an apartment. Perhaps you only have a few plants that need to be kept safe during the winter, and an enormous greenhouse would be over-the-top.

In that case, a Happygrill Greenhouse is an excellent option for you. Measuring at 30 x 22 x 43 inches, it’s much more compact than the other choices on this list. Even if you only had a small balcony or patio, this greenhouse would fit comfortably on it.

Because it’s smaller, you won’t need to spend as much to heat it, deal with a lot of snow accumulation, or take a ton of time to assemble it.

Pros

  • Compact size can fit in cramped spaces.
  • It has two built-in shelves with slates that allow for drainage.
  • It is made with a sturdy wooden frame.
  •  
  • Lockable doors.

Cons

  • It cannot hold as many plants as other greenhouses on the list.

Colonial Gable Greenhouse

Colonial Gable Greenhouse

If you want something that you could proudly share pictures of, the Colonial Gable Greenhouse is a great choice. It looks like a tiny colonial-style house.

Of course, it’s built to withstand harsh winter conditions, too. It can easily handle winds up to 90 mph, making it perfect even for areas with the most challenging cold seasons.

Its extra-large size and built-in storage shelves are excellent for holding planters. There’s tons of room to have an assortment of your favorite plants year-round.

With a slanted roof, snow won’t build up on the top, and the panels can catch the sunlight even when the sun is hanging low in the sky.

Pros

  • It looks just like a cute little colonial house.
  • Sturdy.
  • It has a lockable front door.
  • The slanted roof won’t hold piles of snow and catches the sunlight at all angles.
  • It includes built-in shelves.
  • Immense size to hold lots of plants.

Cons

  • It only comes in one size.

Mt. Hood Greenhouse

Mt. Hood Greenhouse

Even the name, Mt. Hood Greenhouse, implies that this is one rigid shelter for your plants. That’s because it is.

The frame of this greenhouse is made from durable and heat-efficient redwood. With this high-quality frame, it can endure winds up to 100 mph.

Every other aspect of it is made to last, too. Its roof and wall panels are made from polycarbonate glazing that is strong and excellent for insulating plants from harsh weather conditions. Plus, the boards are created to allow tons of sunlight in, which could help you save on heating expenses.

Pros

  • They are made from tough and long-lasting redwood.
  • Roof and wall panels allow sunlight to spread quickly inside for your plants to soak up.
  • A slanted roof catches the sun from low angles.
  • Heat-efficient.
  • You only need a ladder, tape measure, and power drill to assemble it.

Cons

  • A few customers felt the assembly instructions were unclear.

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True Shelter Portable Greenhouse

True Shelter Portable Greenhouse

If you’re looking for something easier to assemble and not as complicated, the True Shelter Portable Greenhouse could be ideal. Much like a tent, it comes with a frame and anchoring pegs to stabilize it.

This setup doesn’t mean it’s even slightly unstable, though. Its material is resistant to weather conditions, including temperatures as cold as -58 degrees Fahrenheit.

A rounded top keeps any snow from piling up. That means you won’t need to be concerned about it collapsing from the weight of accumulated snow in a few months.

As a bonus, it’s made out of environmentally friendly materials.

Pros

  • Easy assembly.
  • It can be anchored on grass, concrete, or patios.
  • Resistant to extreme weather conditions.
  • The rounded shape won’t accumulate snow.
  • All you’ll need to assemble it is a hammer.
  • Environmentally friendly materials.

Cons

  • Less attractive than the other greenhouse options on the list.

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8 Ft x 8 Ft. D Greenhouse

8 Ft. W 8 Ft D Greenhouse

We love the look of this greenhouse. We can imagine it on a deck or patio with its rounded sides.

A larger size means you could even put a chair in it to sit and enjoy the beauty of your plants in the winter.

In addition to a shelf that wraps around the inside, it has rods so you can store hanging planters. High-quality siding and trim mean it can endure harsh winds up to 90 mph.

They thought of everything when they made this greenhouse.

Pros

  • Gorgeous look.
  • It includes a shelf and rods for hanging baskets.
  • Durable siding and trim.
  • You can paint the outside, so it looks the way you want it to.
  • Resistant to winds up to 90 mph.
  • Spacious.

Cons

  • It requires more tools for assembly, including a power drill, hammer, utility knife, step ladder, tape measure, and speed square.

Also Read: Do Greenhouses Need Bees?

What to Consider for a Winter Greenhouse

Heating

gas heater

The whole reason you get a greenhouse for the winter in the first place is to protect your plants from the harsh cold. However, unless you live in a location where the winters are very mild, you’ll need more than just a greenhouse.

Make sure you research what each greenhouse is made of. Slanted roof panels are especially significant because they allow sunlight to enter even during those short winter days when the sun is low in the sky.

Furthermore, you won’t need to consider getting a heater. Electric heaters can work fine, but gas ones will work even better for harsh winters.

Humidity Control

greenhouse gardening

Temperature isn’t the only thing you need to worry about regarding plants. As you know, humidity is also crucial to their growth.

You will need to factor in climate control as you shop for a potential greenhouse critical to winter gardening. Proper ventilation is essential. Otherwise, you may have to contend with diseases and fungus attacking your plants.

Durability

greenhouse steel frame

If you live somewhere with severe cold seasons, the durability of your greenhouse is another quality worth considering. You may experience high winds and a large amount of snow piling up over several weeks, especially the farther north you live.

You’ll want greenhouses with a strong frame in these types of conditions. You may also want to determine what the panels are made out of.

Polycarbonate is a common material because it’s long-lasting and allows sunlight in a while, simultaneously protecting your plants from harmful UV rays.

Look

beautiful greenhouse

While the primary function of your greenhouse is going to be protecting your plants from sterile conditions, it will also serve another purpose: looking beautiful.

This may not matter to you as much. However, your greenhouse is going to be sitting on your property for several months at a time (if not permanently).

Like anything else you put in your yard, it’s perfectly reasonable to want it to look appealing. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your greenhouse caring for the plants, you might enjoy the view.

Wrap Up

Winter doesn’t need to mean the temporary end to your gardening. You can keep cultivating a beautiful garden all year long with a quality greenhouse, regardless of where you live.

 If we had to pick one greenhouse from the list, we’d go with the 8 Ft x 8 Ft. D Greenhouse. We love the size and how it’s shaped like a small tower.

The shelving and the rods are the best parts, though. You’ll have more than enough room to keep a garden in this cute greenhouse.